Device, system, and method of interactive quiz game

ABSTRACT

Briefly, a device, system and method of interactive quiz game. A method of operating an interactive quiz game may include, for example: sequentially presenting a stream of statements to plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals; receiving responses from participating stations to the presented stream of statements within a pre-defined response period following presentation of each statement; if a response received from a participating station is correct, incrementing a value of a score counter associated with said participating station; if a response received from a participating station is incorrect, terminating the participation of said station in the interactive quiz game; if the value of a score counter associated with a participating station reaches a pre-defined target value, determining that said station is a winner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of quiz games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various quiz games exist, for example, for entertainment and educational purposes. Some quiz games are intended mainly for a single contestant, e.g., “Who Wants to be a Millionaire (™)”; whereas other quiz games are intended mainly for multiple contestants, e.g., “Jeopardy (™)” and “Wheel of Fortune (™)”. A contestant's success in a quiz game may depend on various parameters, for example, the contestant's knowledge and skills, as well as random elements, e.g., if questions or tasks are selected randomly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of the invention provide, for example, devices, systems and methods of interactive quiz game.

In some embodiments, multiple users may participate in an interactive quiz game, after logging in to a game server and optionally paying a participation fee. Each user may be associated with a score counter, which may be initially set to zero.

The game server may include a repository storing multiple statements or questions, such that each statement or question may be associated with a correct response or answer. For example, the statement “Rome is the capital of Italy” may be associated with the correct response “True”, whereas the statement “Tom Cruise played in the movie Titanic” may be associated with the correct response “False”.

In some embodiments, the statement or question to be answered may be presented in a multiple choice format, whereby the user may select the answer or response from a set of multiple (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) possible answers, wherein only one of the presented selections is identified by the system as the correct response.

In some embodiments, a statement or question may be selected from the repository, for example, pseudo-randomly or in accordance with a pre-defined selection algorithm, for example, at predefined time intervals, e.g., every ten seconds. The selected statement or question may be presented simultaneously to multiple users, e.g., using multiple stations, respectively. Each user may have a pre-defined time period, e.g., nine seconds, to submit his response to the statement or question, e.g., “True” or “False”, or one of the multiple choices presented to the use (e.g., “A”, “B”, “C” or “D”).

In one embodiment, the user's response may be submitted or registered using an input unit, for example, a user interface having multiple press-able buttons or clickable areas, optionally using a mouth, a keyboard, a keypad, or other input unit; and the input unit may send or transmit to the quiz game server a signal indicating the answer selected by the user.

If the signal received from a user does not match the correct response, then that user may receive the message “You were incorrect”, and may not further participate in the quiz game, e.g., at all, or unless the user pays an additional participation fee.

Conversely, if the signal received from a user matches the correct response, then the score counter associated with that user may be incremented or increased, and that user may proceed to participate in consecutive rounds of the quiz game, e.g., may respond to a consecutive selected statement.

In one embodiment, the first user whose score counter reaches a pre-defined target score value, thereby indicating that the user submitted a pre-defined number of consecutive correct responses, may be declared as the winner, and may optionally receive a prize.

In some embodiments, multiple users may join at various times the quiz game and the stream of statements or questions presented, e.g., without interfering with the participation of other users in parallel. For example, a stream of statements or questions may be presented substantially continuously, such that a different statement or question is presented every pre-defined time-interval to all the users participating at that time. For example, a first user may join the quiz game prior to presenting, e.g., the 9th statement or question in the stream; whereas a second user may join the quiz game prior to presenting, e.g., the 13th statement or question in the stream. As both the first and second users are participating, the first statement or question presented to both the first and second users (e.g., the 13th statement in the stream) is the 5th statement or question presented to the first user and the 1st statement presented to the second user; the consecutive presented statement or question presented to both the first and second users (e.g., the 14th statement in the stream) is the 6th statement or question presented to the first user and the 2nd statement or question presented to the second user, etc.

In some embodiments, score counters may be associated with users, or with stations able to present the statements or questions or able to allow users to enter their selected responses. For example, when a user joins the quiz game, a score counter may be associated with the user, reset and initialized; the score counter may be increased or incremented when the user submits a correct response; the score counter may be decreased, may remain unchanged, or may be reset to zero when the user submits an incorrect response.

In the above-mentioned example, after the 14th statement or question in the stream is presented, the first and second users may submit their responses. If the first user submitted a correct response, then his score counter may indicated that he responded correctly to 6 consecutive statements or questions, whereas if the second user submitted a correct response, then his score counter may indicate that he responded correctly to 2 consecutive statements or questions.

In one embodiment, the first user whose score counter reaches a pre-defined target score value, or whose score counter indicates a pre-defined number of consecutive correct responses, may be determined the winner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanied drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow-chart of a method of operating an interactive quiz game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a quiz game system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, various aspects of the invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without the specific details presented herein. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the invention.

Various examples are given throughout this description. These are merely descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention, but the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples given. Features described with respect to one embodiment may be included in other embodiments though not described therein. Aspects of the various embodiments disclosed herein may be combinable with the other embodiments disclosed herein.

Although portions of the discussion herein may relate, for demonstrative purposes, to presentation of a “statement”, embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, and may include, for example, presenting a predicate, a textual item or object, a graphic item or object, an audio item, a video item or object, a multimedia item or object, an animated item or object, a combined (e.g., text and/or graphic and/or audio) item or object, a sentence, a question, or the like.

Although portions of the discussion herein may relate, for demonstrative purposes, to presenting two selectable responses, embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, and may include, for example, presenting multiple-choice responses, presenting more than two (e.g., three, four, five, etc.) possible responses, presenting a single button allowing the user to indicate a certain response (e.g., “True”), presenting a drop-down list or menu of possible responses, or the like.

FIG. 1 is a flow-chart of a method of operating an interactive quiz game in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

The method may include, for example, logging in to a central game server (box 110). For example, a first user may use a first station to log in to the game server, and a second user may use a second station to log in to the game server. According to embodiments of the invention, users may log on individually at any given time, and the logging in of multiple participants in the same game may not be simultaneous.

The method may optionally include, for example, receiving payment from user (box 115). For example, a user may be required to pay a participation fee to be allowed to participate in one session of the quiz game.

The method may include, for example, resetting a score counter associated with each participating user (box 117). The score counter may store data representing, for example, the number of statements presented to a user, to which the user provided a correct response. In one embodiment, a score counter associated with each new participant may be initially set to zero.

The method may further include, for example, selecting a statement from a statements repository (box 120), e.g., randomly or in accordance with a pre-defined selection algorithm.

The method may further include presenting the selected statement (box 125), for example, to the multiple users, e.g., substantially simultaneously using the multiple stations, respectively.

The method may further include, for example, receiving multiple responses from the multiple users, respectively (box 130), within a pre-defined time period (“response period”), e.g., ten seconds. For example, during the response period, a user may use his station to input a “True” signal or a “False” signal, or other selected signal (e.g., “Yes” or “No”, or “A”, “B”, “C” or “D”, etc.) which may be transferred by the station to the game server. In one embodiment, the method may optionally include an indication of the response period, e.g., a countdown of remaining time, a graphic element advancing in relation to the response period elapsing, or the like.

The method may further include, for example, checking whether the input received from the user matches a pre-defined correct response associated with the selected statement in the statement repository (box 135). This may include, for example, comparing the user's response, e.g., “True” or “False” as indicated by the user's input signal, and the pre-defined correct response, e.g., “True” or “False” as associated with the selected statement in the statement repository.

If a user's input does not match the correct response (arrow 140), then the method may include, for example, presenting to that user the message “You were incorrect” (box 142), and ending or terminating the participation of that user in the quiz game (box 144). It is noted that in one embodiment, if the user does not enter any response within the response period, then this may be regarded as a “null” response, which may be handled as an incorrect response.

In one embodiment, alternatively, after presenting the message “You were incorrect” (box 142), and instead of ending the participation of the user in the quiz game (box 144), the method may include resetting the user's score counter to zero (box 147), and allowing the user to participate in consecutive rounds of the quiz game (arrow 149), optionally after receiving an additional participation payment from that user (box 148).

Conversely, if the user's input matches the correct response (arrow 150), then the method may include, for example, presenting to that user the message “You were correct” (box 152), and proceeding with the operations of box 155 and onward.

As indicated at box 155, the method may include, for example, updating the score counter of each user who provided an input that matches the correct response. For example, the score counter of such user may be incremented, or increased by one.

The method may further include, for example, checking whether any of the score counters is equal to or greater than a pre-defined target score value (box 160). For example, the target score value may be equal to 15, indicating that a user is required to respond correctly to 15 consecutive statements in order to win, and the operations of box 160 may thus include checking whether any of the score counters is equal to or greater than 15.

If the checking result is negative (arrow 162), then the method may repeat the operations of boxes 120 and onward.

Conversely, if the checking result is positive (arrow 164), then the method may include determining the winner(s) of the game quiz, for example, by presenting the message “You won” (box 170), and optionally providing a prize to the users whose score counters are equal to the target score value (box 175).

In one embodiment, if the score counters of multiple users are equal to the target score value, then each of such users may receive a pre-defined prize. In another embodiment, if the score counters of multiple users are equal to the target score value, then each of such users may receive an equal portion of a pre-defined prize. In yet another embodiment, if the score counters of multiple users are equal to the target score value, then only the winning user who was the first to submit the last correct response may receive the prize. Other suitable operations may be used to allocate one or more prizes to one or more users.

Some embodiments of the invention may accommodate various competition rules. In one embodiment, a “loop-type” quiz game may be operated. For example, a stream or set of statements or questions may be sequentially presented or “served” substantially continuously, e.g., a newly selected statement may be presented every ten seconds, and multiple users may join the quiz game at various time points. For example, the first user to reach a pre-defined number of correct consecutive responses may be declared the winner and ay receive a prize.

In another embodiment, for example, a “survival-type” quiz game may be operated. For example, the quiz game may begin at a pre-defined starting time, and only users who logged in prior to that starting time may participate. Statements may be presented or “served” substantially continuously, e.g., a newly selected statement may be presented every ten seconds. A user who submitted an incorrect response to a statement, is eliminated from the quiz game. The last user left, after all other users were eliminated, may be declared the winner and may receive a prize.

In yet another embodiment, for example, a “cumulative score” quiz game may be operated. For example, the quiz game may begin at a pre-defined starting time, and only users who logged in prior to that starting time may participate. Statements may be presented or “served” substantially continuously, e.g., a newly selected statement may be presented every ten seconds. A user's score may be increased upon submission of a correct response. A user's score may remain unchanged, or may be decreased, upon submission of an incorrect response. The user having the highest score, after a pre-defined time period elapses, or after a pre-defined number of statements are presented, may be declared the winner and may receive a prize.

In one embodiment, a score counter may be modified in accordance with pre-defined rules. For example, a score counter may be increased upon submission of a correct response; and may be decreased, or may remain unchanged, upon submission of an incorrect response. In one embodiment, a score counter may be modified in relation to the level of difficulty associated with the presented statement.

In one embodiment, optionally, a user may be allowed a pre-defined number of “pass” operations, in which the user may choose to avoid responding to the presented statement without affecting his participation or score.

In one embodiment, optionally, a user may be allowed a pre-defined number of “free fall” operations, such that even if the user does not respond correctly to the presented statement, his participation or score are not affected.

In one embodiment, optionally, a score may be modified in relation to the time it took the user to respond. For example, a user who responded correctly within two seconds may receive a score increase of three points, whereas a user who responded correctly after seven seconds may receive a score increase of one point.

In one embodiment, a user may be provided with advance knowledge that one of a set of statements is false. In each sets of statements, the user may be required to correctly identify the false statement. Multiple sets of statements may be presented to multiple users, and the first user to correctly analyze a pre-defined number of consecutive or non-consecutive sets may be declared as the winner and may receive a prize.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a block diagram of a quiz game system 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. System 200 may include, for example, a server 250 which may be operatively connected to one or more stations, for example, stations 201, 202 and 203.

Server 250 may include, for example, a statement repository 251, a statement generator 252, and a score counter 253. Server 250 may optionally include other suitable components, for example, a Financial Transactions Manager (FTM) 254 and an output unit 255.

Statement repository 251 may include data representing multiple statements associated with correct responses, respectively, such that each statement is associated with one correct response. In one embodiment, for example, a first statement may include a first textual phrase, e.g., “Paris is the capital of France”, and may be associated with a correct response, e.g., “True”; whereas a second statement may include a second textual phrase, e.g., “Michael Jordan is a famous soccer player”, and may be associated with a second correct response, e.g., “False”. In another embodiment, for example, a first statement may include a first textual question, e.g., “Is Barcelona the capital of Spain?”, and may be associated with a first correct response, e.g., “No”; whereas a second statement may include a second textual question, e.g., “Is Tom Cruise a famous movie star?”, and may be associated with a second correct response, e.g., “Yes”.

In some embodiments, a statement may include textual components, graphical components, audio components, video components, or the like. For example, a statement may include text, e.g., “This is the Statute of Liberty”, as well as a photo or drawing, e.g., of the Statue of Liberty in New York, and may be associated with a correct response “True”. In another embodiment, a statement may include text, e.g., “This is the Fifth Symphony of Beethoven”, as well as data representing an audio clip of a song by the band “U2”, and may be associated with a correct response “False”. In yet another embodiment, a statement may include text, e.g., “This is Neil Armstrong”, as well as data representing a video clip showing astronaut Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, and may be associated with a correct response “Correct”.

In some embodiments, statement repository 251 may include data representing a large number of statements and their respective correct responses, e.g., 1,000 statements, 10,000 statements, 50,000 statements, 200,000 statements, or the like. In some embodiments, statement repository 251 may include statements of one or more of the types described above.

In some embodiments, substantially one half of the statements in statement repository 251 may be associated with a first correct response, e.g., “True” or “Yes”, whereas the second half of the statements in statement repository 251 may be associated with a second correct response, e.g., “False” or “No”. Other suitable ratios of correct responses may be used.

In some embodiments, a statement may be associated with one or more group types. For example, the statement “Paris is the capital of France” may be associated with a group type “Geography”, whereas the statement “Michael Jordan is a famous soccer player” may be associated with a group type “Sports”. In some embodiments, a statement may be associated with multiple group types and/or sub-group types; for example, the statement “Michael Jordan is a famous soccer player” may be associated with a group type “Sports” and with a group type “Celebrities”. In some embodiments, a statement may be associated with one or more subgroup types; for example, the statement “Michael Jordan is a famous soccer player” may be associated with a group type “Sports”, a sub-group type “Basketball”, and a sub-group type “Famous Players”.

In some embodiments, a statement may be associated with a difficulty level indicator, representing a level of difficulty associated with the statement; in one embodiment, a higher value of a difficulty level indicator may represent a higher level of difficulty. For example, the statement “Bill Clinton was the president of the United States” may be associated with a difficulty level indicator of “2”, whereas the statement “Andrew Jackson was the sixth president of the United States” may be associated with a difficulty level indicator of “7”.

Statement generator 252 may, for example, select a statement from the statement repository 251, e.g., randomly, pseudo-randomly, or in accordance with a pre-defined algorithm. In one embodiment, for example, a statement may be selected from a pre-defined group type or sub-group type, e.g., such that a first selected statement may be associated with a first group type or sub-group type, whereas a second selected statement may be associated with a second, different group type or sub-group type. For example, a first selected statement may be associated with group “Sports”, whereas a second selected statement may be associated with group “Movies”. In another embodiment, a statement may be selected from multiple. statements associated with a pre-defined difficulty level indicator, e.g., such that a first selected statement may be associated with a first difficulty level indicator, whereas a second selected statement may be associated with a second, different difficulty level indicator. For example, a first selected statement may be associated with a difficulty level indicator of “3”, whereas a second selected statement may be associated with a difficulty level indicator of “6”. In still another embodiment, statement selection may be based on, or may take into account, the number of users participating in the quiz game, the relative scores of one or more users, the prize offered to the winner(s) of the quiz game, or other suitable parameters. In yet another embodiment, statements may be selected from one or more group types or sub-group types which were pre-selected, e.g., by one or more users, or by a game administrator; for example, statements may be selected only from the “Sports” group.

The selected statement may be presented to one or more users, e.g., using text format, graphic format, audio format, video format, or the like. In one embodiment, for example, server 250 may include an output unit 255 able to present the selected statement to one or more users. In another embodiment, the selected statement may be transferred from server 250 to one or more stations, e.g., to stations 201, 202 and 203, and may be presented to one or more users using output units which may be included in the stations, e.g., using output units 211, 212 and 213, respectively. Output units 255, 211, 212 and/or 213 may include, for example, a screen, a monitor, a display, a speaker, an earphone, or the like.

FTM 254 may include, for example, a unit able to receive payments, e.g., from users of one or more stations 211-213, and/or a unit able to provide prizes, e.g., to users of one or more of stations 211-213. FTM 254 may receive payments and/or provide prizes, for example, using checks, banker's checks, money orders, credit cards, debit cards, direct bank deposit, direct bank debit, credit line, debit line, pre-paid cards, pre-paid amounts, vouchers, coupons, tangible items, or the like. In one embodiment, FTM 254 may be able to receive and/or provide payments online, using an Internet connection, using a World Wide Web payment interface, or the like. In another embodiment, payments may be deducted from, and prizes may be added or credited to, a user's account, a user's utility bill, a user's cables bill, a user's satellite bill, a user's mobile phone bill, a user's phone bill, a user's internet services bill, or the like.

Score counter 253 may be used to store scores associated with participating users. For example, the value stored in score counter 253 may be reset to zero upon log in of a user, may be incremented or increased upon receiving a correct response from that user, may be decreased or reset to zero upon receiving an incorrect response from that user, and/or may be compared to a target score value to determine whether that user wins the quiz game.

Server 250 may further include, or may be implemented using, a processor 281, a memory unit 282, and a storage unit 283. For example, processor 281 may be used to generate statements, and/or to compare between users responses to a selected statement and the pre-defined correct response associated with that selected statement. In one embodiment, memory unit 282 may be used to temporarily store instructions or data; and storage unit 283 may be used, for example, to store the statement repository 251.

Server 250 may optionally include a clock 259, e.g., a real-time clock or a processing clock, to measure time periods. For example, clock 259 may be used to indicate a beginning and/or an ending of a timed quiz game, to measure a response period, to indicate that a new statement may be selected and presented, or the like.

Server 250 may optionally include a parser 257, for example, to convert, translate or transform a statement or a response from a first format to a second format. For example, parser 257 may receive the selected statement from statement generator 252, and may re-format the selected statement for presentation using station 201, 202 and/or 203, e.g., to accommodate presentation requirement or constraints. Additionally or alternatively, parser 257 may receive a signal (e.g., “1”) indicating a user's response from stations 201, 202 and/or 203, and may convert the received signal to a representation of the user's response (e.g., “True”) which may be checked against the pre-defined correct response.

Station 201, station 202 and station 203 may include, for example, input units 271, 272 and 273, respectively, through which a user may input a signal indicating his response to a presented statement. Input units 271, 272 and/or 273 may include, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, one or more buttons or sliders, a stylus pen, a pointing device, a track-ball, a touchpad, a joystick, or the like. In one embodiment, input units 271, 272 and/or 273 may include audible input devices, e.g., a microphone able to receive voice commands or voice indications. In another embodiment, input units 271, 272 and/or 273 may include visual input devices, e.g., a camera able to receive or acquire a user's visual response, e.g., a head nodding, a hand movement, a thumb movement, or the like. In some embodiments, input unit 271, 272 and/or 273 may include a multiple-choice input interface, a binary input interface or a dual-input interface, for example, two (or more) buttons or two (or more) input sub-units allowing a user to indicate “Yes”/“No” responses, “True”/False” responses, “1”/“0” responses, allowing selection from multiple-choices (e.g., “A”, “B”, “C” etc.), or the like.

Station 201 may include, or may be implemented using, a processor 261 and a memory unit 291. For example, processor 261 may perform processing operations, e.g., converting statement data received from server 250 into data which may be presented using output unit 211. Memory unit 291 may be used, for example, to temporarily store data and/or instructions. Similarly, station 202 may include, or may be implemented using, a processor 262 and a memory unit 292; and station 203 may include, or may be implemented using, a processor 263 and a memory unit 293.

Stations 201, 202 and 203 may be operatively connected to server 250, for example, using a one or more wired or wireless communication links, e.g., links 241, 242 and 243, respectively. In one embodiments, links 241, 242 and/or 243 may allow communication in accordance with existing IEEE 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11e, 802.11g, 802.11h, 802.11i, 802.11n, 802.16 standards and/or future versions of the above standards, Wi-Fi, Wi-MAX, BlueTooth, ZigBee, TCP/IP, Ethernet, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, SMTP, or other standards or protocols.

Stations 201, 202 and 203 may be implemented using a suitable combination of software components and/or hardware components, e.g., a wireless communication station, a wireless communication device, a personal computer, a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a hand-held device, a tablet computer, a network, a radio communication devices, a cellular radio-telephone communication device, a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a wireless telephone, a Personal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA device incorporating a wireless communication device, a beeper, a pager, a Short Message Service (SMS) device, a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) device, a Blackberry device, an Instant Messenger (IM) application or device, an electronic mail (e-mail) application or device, a chat application, an online forum, an interactive television, a home gaming device, a mobile or portable gaming device, a home entertainment unit, a mobile or portable entertainment unit, a dedicated playing device, a software application, a Java applet or application, an Internet browser, a plug-in, an Active-X control component, an installable component, a downloadable component, a Flash or Shockwave application, an online application or web-site, or the like.

In some embodiments, server 250 may optionally include a wireless transceiver 258, and stations 201-203 may include wireless transceivers 221-223, respectively, for example, to allow wireless communication between server 250 and stations 201-203. In one embodiment, for example, transceiver 258 may transmit to transceivers 221-223 a wireless signal carrying data representing a selected statement, and transceivers 221-223 may receive the wireless signal. Additionally or alternatively, for example, transceivers 221-223 may transmit to transceiver 258 a wireless signal carrying data indicating a user's response, and transceiver 258 may receive the wireless signal. Transceivers 258, 221, 222 and/or 223 may include, for example, a transmitter, a receiver, a transmitter-receiver, or other unit able to transmit and/or receive wireless communication signals. Transceivers 258, 221, 222 and/or 223 may optionally include, or may operatively associated with, an antenna, e.g., a Radio Frequency (RF) antenna.

In some embodiments, a statement may be stored in the statement repository 251 in multiple alternate formats or languages. For example, in one embodiments, a first statement may be stored or represented in English, French and German, and may be presented to various users in accordance with their preferred language. For example, a user of station 201 may indicate that he wishes to communicate in French, and thus server 251 may present or send to station 201 a selected statement in its French format; whereas a user of station 202 may indicate that he wishes to communicate in German, and thus server 251 may present or send to station 202 the same selected statement in its German format. In some embodiments, system 200 may thus concurrently present the same question to various users in accordance with their respective pre-selected languages.

Other suitable methods, operations, devices and/or components may be used in accordance with embodiments of the invention. For example, in one embodiment, a method of operating a quiz game may include: presenting a set of statements to plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals; resetting a score counter associated with a participating station when participation of said station in the quiz game begins; receiving responses from participating stations to the presented statements within pre-defined response periods between said pre-defined time intervals; if a response received from a participating station is correct, increasing the score counter associated with said participating station; if a response received from a participating station is incorrect, terminating the participation of said station in the quiz game; and, if one or more of said score counters is equal to or greater than a pre-defined target value, presenting a winning message to one or more stations associated with said one or more counters.

In another embodiment, for example, a method of operating a quiz game may include the steps of: (a) selecting a statement from a plurality of pre-defined statements associated with pre-defined correct responses, respectively, and presenting the selected statement to plurality of stations; (b) within a pre-defined time period, receiving plurality of responses to the presented statement from plurality of stations, respectively; (c) for each received response, if the received response is incorrect, presenting a losing message to the station associated with the incorrect received response, and terminating participation of said station in said quiz game; conversely, if the received response is correct, increasing the value of a counter associated said station, and if the counter value is greater than or equal to a pre-defined target value, presenting a winning message to the station associated with said counter, and terminating the quiz game; and (d) if a winning message was not displayed in the operations of (c), repeating the operations of (a) and onward.

In some embodiments, a “loop” or a virtually infinite “loop” of statements may be presented at a pre-defined, e.g., constant, time interval; one or more stations may begin their participation in the quiz game substantially at any time, e.g., by logging in to a game server; the game server may track monitor, for each participating station, the number of correct responses or the number of consecutive correct responses; and, a winning message may be presented, and optionally a prize may be provided, to the station or user that are the first to reach a pre-defined target number of correct responses or consecutive correct responses.

In another embodiment, an interactive quiz game may be implemented in association or in combination with a sale transaction, an online sale transaction, an auction transaction or process, or an online auction transaction or process. For example, a user, a merchant or a seller may place an item for sale or for auction, e.g., using an online auctions web-site (e.g., “eBay” (™)) or online sales web-site (e.g., “Amazon” (™)), indicating a required sale price. Instead of, or in addition to, placing the item for sale in a regular sales or auction process, the item may be designated as a prize in a game, e.g., an interactive quiz game in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Other users may participate, e.g., using stations and after paying a participation fee, in the quiz game wherein the prize is the item placed for sale. In one embodiment, difficulty level of presented statements may be tailored to accommodate the estimated value of the prize or the sale price required by the selling entity; for example, such that when a winning user or station is declared, a sufficient number of participating users or stations paid a sufficient amount of accumulated participation fees, to allow at least payment of the requested price to the selling entity. In one embodiment, the accumulated participation fees may be higher, or significantly higher, than the estimated value or the requested price for the prize item. In another embodiment, the selling entity may receive a pre-defined percentage of the accumulated participation fees, and hence may optionally receive at least the requested price and possibly a higher amount. In some embodiments, the online sales web-site or online auctions web-site may receive or keep a portion of the accumulated participation fees. In some embodiments, a user may participate in the quiz game for a relatively low participation fee (e.g., one Dollar), and may have a chance to win, e.g., based on his skills and/or talents to correctly respond to presented statements, a prize item having a significantly higher value (e.g., fifty Dollars).

Some embodiments of the invention may be implemented by software, by hardware, or by any combination of software and/or hardware as may be suitable for specific applications or in accordance with specific design requirements. Embodiments of the invention may include units and/or sub-units, which may be separate of each other or combined together, in whole or in part, and may be implemented using specific, multi-purpose or general processors or controllers, or devices as are known in the art. Some embodiments of the invention may include buffers, registers, stacks, storage units and/or memory units, for temporary or long-term storage of data or in order to facilitate the operation of a specific embodiment.

Although portions of the discussion herein may relate, for demonstrative purposes, to a score counter which may be incremented or increased following submission of a correct response, and/or decremented or decreased or reset following submission of an incorrect response, embodiments of the invention are not limited in this regard, and may include other suitable types of score counters and other suitable score modification methods and score updating methods. For example, in one embodiment, a score counter may be initially set, e.g., when a user joins the quiz game, to a pre-defined value (e.g., ten), may be decreased or decremented upon submission of a correct response, may be increased or incremented upon submission of an incorrect response, and may indicate a win if its value is equal to or smaller than a pre-defined target score value.

In some embodiments, for example, a method of operating an interactive quiz game may include: sequentially presenting a stream of statements to plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals; receiving responses from participating stations to the presented stream of statements within a pre-defined response period following presentation of each statement; if a response received from a participating station is correct, incrementing a value of a score counter associated with said participating station, if a response received from a participating station is incorrect, terminating the participation of said station in the interactive quiz game; and if the value of a score counter associated with a participating station reaches a pre-defined target value, determining that said station is a winner.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include commencing participation of a first station in the interactive quiz game at a first time point; and commencing participation of a second station in the interactive quiz game at a second time point.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include substantially simultaneously presenting a statement of said stream to said first and second stations.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include substantially simultaneously presenting said statement as an Nth presented statement to said first station and as an Mth presented statement to said second station.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include initializing a score counter associated with a participating station when participation of said station in the interactive quiz game begins.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include selecting a statement from a repository storing plurality of statements associated with correct responses, respectively.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include selecting a first statement associated with a first group type; and selecting a second statement associated with a second group type.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include selecting a first statement associated with a first difficulty level; and selecting a second statement associated with a second difficulty level.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include selecting a statement associated with a difficulty level value in relation to the numbers of stations participating in said quiz game.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include selecting a statement associated with a difficulty level value in relation to the highest value of the score counters associated with the participating stations.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include presenting said stream of statements in a first presentation format to a first participating station, and presenting said stream of statements in a second, different presentation format to a second participating station.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include presenting said stream of statements in a first language to a first participating station, and presenting said stream of statements in a second, different language to a second participating station.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include presenting a stream of statements including at least one textual statement and/or at least one graphical statement and/or at least one audio statement.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include receiving at least one response through a multiple-choice input interface.

In some embodiments, for example, the method may include, based on the determination, providing a prize to at least one participating station.

Some embodiments of the invention may be implemented, for example, using a machine-readable medium or article which may store an instruction or a set of instructions that, if executed by a machine, for example, by system 200 of FIG. 2, by server 250 of FIG. 2, by station 201 of FIG. 2, by station 202 of FIG. 2, by station 203 of FIG. 2, by processor 281 of FIG. 2, or by other suitable machines, cause the machine to perform a method and/or operations in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Such machine may include, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware and/or software. The machine-readable medium or article may include, for example, any suitable type of memory unit (e.g., memory unit 282 or storage unit 283), memory device, memory article, memory medium, storage device, storage article, storage medium and/or storage unit, for example, memory, removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analog media, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Re-Writeable (CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic media, various types of Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs), a tape, a cassette, or the like. The instructions may include any suitable type of code, for example, source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, or the like, and may be implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language, e.g., C, C++, Java, BASIC, Pascal, Fortran, Cobol, assembly language, machine code, or the like.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. 

1. A method of operating an interactive quiz game, the method comprising: sequentially presenting a stream of statements to a plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals; receiving responses from participating stations to the presented stream of statements within a pre-defined response period following presentation of each statement; if a response received from a participating station is correct, incrementing a value of a score counter associated with said participating station; if a response received from a participating station is incorrect, terminating the participation of said station in the interactive quiz game; if the value of a score counter associated with a participating station reaches a pre-defined target value, determining that said station is a winner.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: commencing participation of a first station in the interactive quiz game at a first time point; and commencing participation of a second station in the interactive quiz game at a second time point.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting comprises: substantially simultaneously presenting a statement of said stream to said first and second stations.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein substantially simultaneously presenting a statement comprises: substantially simultaneously presenting said statement as an Nth presented statement to said first station and as an Mth presented statement to said second station.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initializing a score counter associated with a participating station when participation of said station in the interactive quiz game begins.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: selecting a statement from a repository storing plurality of statements associated with correct responses, respectively.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: selecting a first statement associated with a first group type; and selecting a second statement associated with a second group type.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: selecting a first statement associated with a first difficulty level; and selecting a second statement associated with a second difficulty level.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: selecting a statement associated with a difficulty level value in relation to the numbers of stations participating in said quiz game.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: selecting a statement associated with a difficulty level value in relation to the highest value of the score counters associated with the participating stations.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: presenting said stream of statements in a first presentation format to a first participating station, and presenting said stream of statements in a second, different presentation format to a second participating station.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting comprises: presenting said stream of statements in a first language to a first participating station, and presenting said stream of statements in a second, different language to a second participating station.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: presenting a stream of statements including at least one textual statement.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: presenting a stream of statements including at least one graphical statement.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a stream of statements comprises: presenting a stream of statements including at least one audio statement.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving responses comprises: receiving at least one response through a multiple-choice input interface.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: based on the determination, providing a prize to at least one participating station.
 18. A system for operating a quiz game, the system comprising: at least one output unit to sequentially present a stream of statements to a plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals; and a processor able to: receive responses from participating stations to the presented stream of statements within a pre-defined response period following presentation of each statement; if a response received from a participating station is correct, increment a value of a score counter associated with said participating station; if a response received from a participating station is incorrect, terminate the participation of said station in the interactive quiz game; if the value of a score counter associated with a participating station reaches a pre-defined target value, determine that said station is a winner.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to commence participation of a first station in the interactive quiz game at a first time point, and commence participation of a second station in the interactive quiz game at a second time point.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein said processor is to substantially simultaneously present a statement of said stream to said first and second stations.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said processor is to substantially simultaneously present said statement as an Nth presented statement to said first station and as an Mth presented statement to said second station.
 22. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to initialize a score counter associated with a participating station when participation of said station in the interactive quiz game begins.
 23. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a statement from a repository storing plurality of statements associated with correct responses, respectively.
 24. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a first statement associated with a first group type, and select a second statement associated with a second group type.
 25. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a first statement associated with a first difficulty level, and select a second statement associated with a second difficulty level.
 26. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a statement associated with a difficulty level value in relation to the numbers of stations participating in said quiz game.
 27. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to select a statement associated with a difficulty level value in relation to the highest value of the score counters associated with the participating stations.
 28. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present said stream of statements in a first presentation fornmat to a first participating station, and to present said stream of statements in a second, different presentation format to a second participating station.
 29. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present said stream of statements in a first language to a first participating station, and to present said stream of statements in a second, different language to a second participating station.
 30. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present a stream of statements including at least one textual statement.
 31. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present a stream of statements including at least one graphical statement.
 32. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to present a stream of statements including at least one audio statement.
 33. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to receive at least one response through a multiple-choice input interface.
 34. The system of claim 18, wherein said processor is to provide a prize to at least one participating station based on the determination.
 35. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, if executed by. a machine, cause the machine to perform a method of operating an interactive quiz game, the method comprising: sequentially presenting a stream of statements to a plurality of participating stations at pre-defined time intervals; receiving responses from participating stations to the presented stream of statements within a pre-defined response period following presentation of each statement; if a response received from a participating station is correct, incrementing a value of a score counter associated with said participating station; if a response received from a participating station is incorrect, terminating the participation of said station in the interactive quiz game; if the value of a score counter associated with a participating station reaches a pre-defined target value, determining that said station is a winner.
 36. The machine-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the instructions result in: commencing participation of a first station in the interactive quiz game at a first time point; and commencing participation of a second station in the interactive quiz game at a second time point.
 37. The machine-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions result in: substantially simultaneously presenting a statement of said stream to said first and second stations.
 38. The machine-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the instructions result in: substantially simultaneously presenting said statement as an Nth presented statement to said first station and as an Mth presented statement to said second station. 